Assisted Living in Maryland

Maryland is the only state to regulate hospital stay costs and has much less expensive healthcare as a result. In a 2018 commonwealth study, Maryland ranked 20th in the nation for healthcare overall and is ranked 3rd out of all the states for high out-of-pocket costs. In addition to affordable healthcare, the natural and historic attractions make up a rich local culture, and a mild climate and numerous outdoor activities all combine to make the state attractive to retiring seniors.

Directory of Assisted Living Facilities in Maryland

Researching as many assisted living communities as possible before choosing one is an important step which shouldn’t be overlooked. See our directory of 597 assisted living facilities in the state of Maryland to start that process. Locate information about amenities, size of the facility, pricing, health insurance, and more using the tool below.

Paying For Assisted Living in Maryland

The Cost of Assisted Living in Maryland

The monthly median cost of assisted living in Maryland is $4,673, which is significantly more expensive than the national average of $4,000. According to Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care Survey, assisted living in Maryland is also less expensive than the median in all of the neighboring states except Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

 

Average costs vary drastically across Maryland. Some areas in Cumberland are less than the national average of $4,000, but most areas are slightly to significantly more expensive, such as the California area at $5,900 monthly.

 

While not offering the same level of care as assisted living, independent living is the cheapest senior living option in the state at only $3,321 a month. Assisted living and memory care have identical average monthly costs, while nursing home care costs more than double assisted living on average.

Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Maryland

Elderly, disabled and low-income residents of Maryland are eligible for medical payment assistance. Maryland has several programs available to help assist long-term care expenses, including the cost of assisted living facilities.

Senior Assisted Living Group Home Subsidy Program

Maryland’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene provides the Senior Assisted Living Group Home subsidy for elder residents of Maryland that are in need of assisted living but require financial assistance to avoid moving into a nursing home. The subsidy will pay a licensed, registered assisted living facility up to $650 a month, while residents will give the facility all of their income minus a $60 monthly allowance deduction. The subsidy covers the costs of services provided in assisted living, such as meals, 24-hour supervision and personal care for frail residents who desire to live as independently as possible.

Who Is Eligible?

An applicant must be 62 or older and in medical need of assistance with one or more activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, dressing, and eating. Financial eligibility requirements include a maximum asset limit of $11,000 for single adults or $14,000 for a couple. Additionally, monthly income must be under 60% of the state median income.

How to Apply

Contact your nearest Area Agency on Aging to discover program availability and to request an application.

HCBS Waiver

The Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver provides financial assistance to those living in the community or assisted living facilities who are in need of skilled care for 1 or more ADLs. There are enough funds to support a maximum of 3,000 participants.

Who Is Eligible?

Eligibility is determined based on age, health, and income. Applicants must be over age 50 and meet long-term care admission requirements like needing ADL assistance. There are strict income guidelines, as this program is federally funded. The maximum monthly income is 300% of the SSI maximum and applicants may have no more than $2,000 in assets.

How to Apply

The first step to receive the HCBS waiver is to apply for Medicaid by calling 1-855-642-8572 or by visiting Maryland’s Medicaid website. If you have already applied for Medicaid, please contact your nearest Area Agency on Aging for a referral to the HCBS waiver program.

More Ways to Finance Assisted Living

Some additional ways to finance assisted living costs include:

• Veterans Benefits: Veterans can take advantage of several different pension programs to help cover the cost of assisted living. For more information, see the article on benefits.va.gov.

• Life Insurance Policies: Even if a spouse or loved one hasn’t died, certain types of life insurance policies can be used to pay for assisted living. More information is available at longtermcare.acl.gov.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: Long-term care insurance is a type of insurance policy that pays for long-term care when it becomes necessary, including the cost of assisted living. For more information on the benefits and drawbacks of this financing method, visit longtermcare.acl.gov.

• Reverse Mortgages: Reverse mortgages allow seniors to access the equity from a home that they own, and these funds can be used to pay for assisted living. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development offers a federally insured reverse mortgage program.

Free Assisted Living Resources in Maryland

Congregate Housing Services Program (CHSP)

The CHSP program provides special services for those needing care with activities of daily life (ADLs). Residents of low and moderate income senior apartments can apply for daily or weekly assistance with chores, daily meals, and personal services as well as service management.

Who Is Eligible?

To qualify for CHSP, a resident of Maryland must be at least 62 years old, require assistance with at least one ADL, require housing assistance and be able to function in the facility. A spouse may also qualify, if they are at least 55 years old and meet other criteria for eligibility. A person or couple must also qualify based on income. Income must not exceed $2,861 a month ($3,741 for couples), and a person may not have resources greater than $27,375 ($35,587 for a couple).

How to Apply

Due to limited funding, there may be a waiting list. Not all counties currently participate in the program; inquire about availability with your local Senior Information and Assistance Office at (800) 243-3425.

Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

Maryland maintains a Long-Term Care Ombudsman (LTCO) program. A primary function of the Ombudsman is to investigate complaints made regarding problems with long-term care facilities. Additionally, the LTCO provides resources and assistance in areas such as:

• Educating residents, family and facility staff on a variety of issues
• Referrals and information to assist residents in resolving complaints on their own
• Consulting with facilities to improve the quality of life for residents
• Providing recommendations to facilities when complaints are lodged
• Following up with complaints against staff and facilities
• Problems with Medicaid and other senior service agencies

To reach your local LTCO, click here to find your nearest office.

Area Agencies on Aging

Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) is a network of hundreds of governmental, private, and nonprofit organizations across America that provide various services to elders and those with disabilities. Services include protective services, referrals to medical, housing and financial assistance, transportation, and other senior programs.

Veterans Affairs

The United States Veterans Department provides many services to those who have served in the armed forces. Retired veterans could be eligible for housing assistance, medication and hospital costs, counseling, educational and mortgage assistance.

Social Security Offices

Maryland’s Social Security Offices offer another great resource for seniors seeking guidance and assistance. Reach out to them to learn about your retirement, survivors, and social security benefits.

Assisted Living Laws and Regulations in Maryland

Maryland’s Department of Health defines and enforces strict regulations regarding assisted living. Different areas of regulation include staffing requirements like training and background checks, medication management, and facility requirements.

Assisted Living Negotiated Service & Admissions Agreements

A negotiated resident agreement must be completed with every resident 30 days prior to admission using the Resident Assessment Tool. Information in this agreement includes:

• Initial Uniform Assessment findings such as height, weight, and medications
• The scope of care needed for the resident
• Financial information like costs of services to be provided
• Physicians orders and the patient’s medication list
• Overnight supervisory requirements or electronic devices used to monitor residents overnight
• Other identified needs

Assisted Living Admission Requirements

There are limitations on the level of care that can be provided in an assisted living facility (ALF). Individuals that are determined to be a public safety risk, such as carriers of infectious diseases, may not be admitted into an ALF. Assisted living facilities are designed for residents who want to live in an apartment-style residence but require assistance with one or more activities of daily living (ADLs).

Assisted Living Scope of Care

ALFs in Maryland may provide care based on three levels of services: Low, moderate, and high. The levels of care are used to define service requirements such as medication assistance and behavioral concerns like wandering. A resident who needs assistance with 2 ADLs or less are low or moderate, further assistance would require an approved waiver to keep the resident in the facility, proving that the extra care would not cause problems for other residents or undue stress on the staff.

Residents are able to contract with third-party services to received specialized care while remaining in the ALF. Any third party provider must be included in the resident agreement.

Assisted Living Medicaid Policy

Elderly or disabled residents of Maryland may qualify for assisted living reimbursement through the HCBS waiver program, and they must qualify for level II or III service needs. These residents will be provided with 24-hour supervision and will receive a visit by an RN every 45 days to verify service requirements are being met.

Assisted Living Facility Requirements

Residents may live in single or double occupancy rooms with a minimum of 80 or 120 feet of functional space, respectively. Restrooms with locking doors must be provided, with at least one toilet for every four residents. There must be one bathtub for every eight residents.

Medication Management Regulations

There are strict protocols regarding medication management in an ALF. Residents using over 9 medications, including over-the-counter medications will have their prescriptions evaluated every 6 months by an RN or pharmacist. All trained staff must document the length and scope of their training. In the event that an untrained person assists in the taking of medication, the event must be documented as well as why they weren’t required to take training prior to assisting the resident.

Staffing Requirements

There is no minimum staff to resident ratio in Maryland, but there must always be staff available. Residents that need supervision overnight must be provided access to a 24/7 supervising staff member. If there is a resident with overnight care needs or supervision requirements, there must always be at least one staff member awake in the facility. As long as there are no night care orders, staff may sleep at night, ready to awaken if needed. If a doctor orders, a resident may be provided an electronic monitoring device instead, and this must be included in the resident’s plan.

There must always be a staff member on-site, and a registered nurse must be contracted with the ALF as a delegating nurse to oversee services through a visit every 45 days. On-site nurses are required only by doctor’s orders. The ALF manager must be on-site or available on call at all times.

Staff Training Requirements

All residential care staff are required to undergo orientation training as well as continued education while they work in an ALF. Training is to include CPR and first aid by a certified instructor and other topics such as fire safety, infection control, and the health psychosocial needs of older adults.

Assisted living facility managers are required to have at least a high school diploma, and a 4-year degree for facilities licensed for level III services. The manager of any ALF with 5 or more beds must complete an additional ALF manager training program. This program must be at least 80 hours long with no more than 25 of those hours being online or through mail correspondence. Topics in management training include the aging process, clinical management, assisted living philosophies, and appropriate staffing management.

Background Checks for Assisted Living

Background checks and criminal history screens are required to be completed by all staff 30 days prior to employment at any ALF in Maryland. Applicants to work in an ALF can have no criminal convictions or criminal history indicating behavioral concerns that could pose a threat to residents.

Requirements for Reporting Abuse

A staff member or licensee of an ALF is required to report any witnessed or otherwise perceived abuse, neglect or financial exploitation to the proper authorities within 24 hours. All reports are made to the Maryland Office of Health Care Quality, the appropriate law enforcement agency, and the local Area Agency on Aging or Department of Aging. A penalty of up to $1,000 is made on any staff that does not comply with this law. Upon investigation, referrals may be made to the State Attorney General or the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. To report abuse, contact your local LTC Ombudsman.

Maryland COVID-19 Rules for Assisted Living Facilities

Note: The following information was compiled and most recently updated on 2/8/22. Since COVID-19 is a rapidly evolving crisis, be sure to contact your assisted living facility or local Area Agency on Aging for the most up-to-date information.

COVID-19 Rules in Maryland
Are loved ones allowed to visit residents in their assisted living community?	Yes (Conditions Apply)
Are residents required to quarantine after their loved ones visit?	No
Are loved ones required to wear masks when visiting residents?	Yes
Are Hairdressers and other non-medical contractors allowed in assisted living communities?	Yes
Are visitors screened for elevated temperatures before entering the assisted living community?	Yes
Are residents allowed to leave the assisted living community for non-medical reasons?	Yes
Are residents who leave required to quarantine when they get back to the assisted living community?	No (Conditions Apply)
Are assisted living communities required to cancel all group outings?	No
Are assisted living communities allowed to host group activities within the community?	Yes (Conditions Apply)
Are staff members regularly checked for elevated temperatures?	Yes
Are staff members regularly tested for COVID-19?	Yes (Conditions Apply)
Are residents regularly screened for COVID-19 symptoms?	Yes
Are residents regularly checked for elevated temperatures?	Yes
Are residents regularly tested for COVID-19?	Yes (Conditions Apply

 

Sources: coronavirus.maryland.gov www.cdc.gov